6 Combine Studs the Oakland Raiders Must Have on Their Short List

The first workout day of the NFL Scouting Combine is in the books. It was a day for offensive linemen and tight ends to show off their skill sets and attributes that may not be visible on tape.

For others, it was a confirmation—the first physical interview that matches the player with the film resume.

Specifically for the Oakland Raiders, the offensive line could be an interest point with Menelik Watson's struggles for a portion of the 2014 season and Stefen Wisniewski’s unclear future.

Don’t be surprised if the Raiders also look to add an extra blocking tight end as added protection for quarterback Derek Carr.

Here’s a quick look at the standout performers from the first workout day at the combine—linemen and tight ends who may have piqued general manager Reggie McKenzie’s interest.

Jesse James (Tight End: Penn State)

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One of the biggest tight ends in this year’s draft class didn’t disappoint.

Penn State tight end Jesse James measured in at 6’7”, 261 pounds and was a top performer in bench pressing, the vertical jump, broad jump and the 60-yard shuttle, per NFL.com.

These statistics may seem mundane and boring, but Raiders scouts should take heed in James’ strength, speed and athleticism as a 6'7" tight end.

Yes, Mychal Rivera had an impressive season as a receiving tight end with 534 receiving yards and four touchdowns, but adding a larger-sized prospect as a dual-threat tight would help Oakland in protection as well as goal-line scoring opportunities.

Sean Hickey (Tackle: Syracuse)

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Sean Hickey is a projected as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, but he shined at the combine.

He recorded the third-best bench-pressing performance, showing great strength at 35 reps. His short burst of above-average strength will be needed against the bigger bulldozing nose tackles in the league.

As a 6’5”, 309-pounder, he can add depth to the offensive line as a late pick but could also see significant time as a starter if Oakland needs Austin Howard at tackle.

Cameron Erving (Center: Florida State)

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Cameron Erving entered the combine as the jack-of-all-trades.

According to Lance Zierlein of NFL.com, he’s a former defensive lineman who had a quick learning curve as a starting center at Florida State in a pro-style offense:

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Former defensive lineman who is still learning the nuances of offensive-line play after just two seasons as a starter. Has the length and foot quickness to play tackle, but film work shows that he will have a much more successful career at center. Possesses skill set and temperament to show rapid development, but might need a year or two of seasoning.

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According to Chase Goodbread of NFL.com, Erving was a standout performer on Friday and could become the Swiss Army knife of an offensive line:

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Florida State's versatile offensive lineman, helped himself in more ways than one. His 40-yard dash of 5.15 seconds ranked him in the top 10 at his position, but his bench-press reps (30) and fourth-ranked broad jump (112 inches) combined to give him one of the top overall performances among offensive linemen. Erving's pro potential will be evaluated as both a tackle and an interior player -- he played both tackle and center in his final year at FSU -- and he'll leave the combine with both possibilities intact.

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The Raiders did some shifting on the offensive line in 2014. A versatile talent like Erving could help fill potential holes when injuries arise or underperforming players are unable to fulfill expectations.

Ali Marpet (Center: Hobart College)

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Finally, Hobart College is getting some recognition.

On a serious note, Ali Marpet could be a potential replacement for Wisniewski if he doesn’t return to Oakland.

Fortunately for the Raiders, Marpet was impressive in his first showing at the combine. He gained the most traction for a rising draft stock, per Goodbread:

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Little-known prospect Ali Marpet of Hobart College was the fastest offensive lineman in the 40-yard dash event, logging one of only two sub-5.0 times (4.98 -- and the other came from a long snapper). Marpet's day caught the eye of NFL Media draft analyst Lance Zierlein, as well. Between Marpet's showing at the combine (he also pushed 30 reps in bench press testing) and his strong performance at the Senior Bowl in January, his draft arrow is undoubtedly pointing up.

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Marpet didn’t even make the list on CBSSports.com draft projections. Based on his workouts, that could change, and the Raiders should keep him on the short list of players to watch as a sleeper pick.

Jake Fisher (Tackle: Oregon)

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According to Goodbread, Jake Fisher was another standout performer in Friday's workouts:

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Jake Fisher drew strong reviews Friday for his efforts, including a 5.01 40-yard dash that ranked second among offensive linemen. Fisher, a tackle prospect from Oregon, was also a standout to Jeremiah and turned in the best 20-yard shuttle time of the big men as well (4.33). Given the pace at which Oregon plays on offense, it comes as no surprise that Fisher proved to be one of the more athletic linemen on hand.

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Fisher measured in at 6’6”, 306 pounds and performed exceptionally well as a second-to-third-round draft projection.

He could be a Week 1 starter given his physical attributes and capabilities. If he falls to the third round, the Raiders should draft him to eventually overtake 31-year-old Donald Penn’s starting position.

Mitch Morse (Guard: Missouri)

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Mitch Morse is another name that isn’t circulating NFL front offices with frequency, but he opened some eyes on Friday with his strength and athleticism.

He recorded 36 reps in the bench press, had a 112-inch broad jump and ran a 4.5-second 20-yard shuttle, per NFL.com. Again, these may seem like just numbers, but it’s helpful for Morse as he capitalized more on intelligence and tenacity than physical gifts, per Zierlein:

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Hard charging with necessary grit. Smart linemen who understands his shortcomings and makes the proper adjustments. Climbs to second level blocks with good angles and timing refusing to stay glued to his initial secure block. Uses a balanced pass set and avoids the waist bending and head butting seen from many linemen at point of contact. Uses a well-timed punch and won't show length-limited punch too early in the rep. Good feel for landing accurate initial strike in pass pro or run game.

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Every team needs a hard-nosed lineman to help set the tone. It’s possible Morse goes undrafted or is a late-round pick. He needs further development, but he's capable of decent upside as a low-risk selection.

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All NFL combine results and profiles are provided by NFL.com. Draft player analysis also provided by NFL.com and CBSSports.com. Advanced statistics provided by Pro-Football-Reference.com.